See Her (Turn it Up #1)

Chapter 23

23

JACK

T he last few days have been some kind of jacked-up blur through an alternate universe. So much happened so fast that I’m not entirely sure it even did happen.

There was the meeting with Ron, followed by him meeting Mayzie the next morning. By the way, I felt like the jackass of all boyfriends fibbing to her about the time so that I could sneak him in a little early to watch her for a few minutes without any pressure on her. Fortunately it paid off, as he liked what he saw through the studio window. She was in her rawest form, hitting her moves hard – literally dancing like no one was watching.

He saw what I already knew; that she was the epitome of the song and would bring the whole video together.

Thankfully, she was quick to forgive me for my sneaky stunt, and she’s in. I actually found myself looking more forward to shooting the video with my beautiful dancer than recording the song and getting it on the airwaves – and that’s saying something, as I don’t like cameras much.

The day after that, it was time to go to the label’s recording studio in NYC. That was one hell of an experience I never thought I’d have. The guys and I flew out the Sunday night after our me eting with Ron, so that we’d be at the studio on Monday morning.

There is a small recording studio in Detroit that we often go to when we want to add some songs to the demo, but this… this was the real thing. The big leagues, as they say. It was big and spacious, comfortable, and don’t get me started on the equipment we had access to.We were in there all day, working with producers and trying out different sounds and effects to add to the song, until we reached the sound we were looking for.

It was almost three in the morning when See Her was perfect.Winding down was impossible, and sleep did not happen between then and our morning meeting with Ron on Tuesday. He basically just went over how we’d be shooting the video back in Detroit on Friday, and we went over contracts for the song release. We then boarded a plane back home, where I got about an hour of seriously uncomfortable sleep.

It was a relief to come back home, and it makes me wonder if I could really handle doing all this fulltime, being a working musician. All that was just to record one song and see how it goes. I was away from Maze for only two days, roughly, and that part sucked. With the way the producers had us balls-to-the-wall recording there was barely any time to speak to her, and I had to settle for texting whenever I had thirty free seconds.

I feel like most girls would’ve been insecure or put-off, but Mayzie was unyieldingly patient and understanding. She’s wanted nothing but the best for me since we met, and I just can’t get over it.

Upon landing, I bypassed my own house and came straight to hers. Trooper was here with her anyway while I was gone, and when I got in, she wanted to hear everything. She excitedly listened to every component I told her, amusing or not, and I was elated to hear that she’d been working on some choreography to the song in preparation for the video, which we start shooting in just three more days.

Now, she’s lying in bed, back against the pillows with me draped across her. She’s unwinding with a dance show, and I watch along with her as she runs her nails gently across the bare skin of my back.As my eyes drift shut, I’m thinking of two things. One: In the morning, the first thing I’m doing is showing her how much I missed her, two days or not. Two: I want more nights like this. I want every night to be like this.

Mayzie

"Almost done," Anita, the makeup artist says, as she paints my lower lip with a deep, berry red lipstick. I'm standing on a small, makeshift dance floor near the windows of the abandoned warehouse, while cameras and lights are being set up around me. My hair has been blown out, teased, and falls wildly around my shoulders. I've been given Cleopatra cat eyes, with a smoky eye shadow, and my cheeks have been contoured, whatever the hell that means.

I’m in my usual dance clothes, only with a dark and edgy flair to them, and paired with my makeup, I think I look the part of troubled, but badass. I’m actually digging the off-shoulder t-shirt and the fishnet tights, but sadly they won’t show a whole lot as I’m going to be partially backlit, giving off a mysterious silhouette vibe as I dance. Hopefully I don’t get blinded and go flying into any expensive equipment.

Just as Anita is satisfied with her work and takes her leave, Ron walks up, giving me no time to stand there awkwardly. I wonder if the people in this industry just naturally run like a well-timed machine or if it’s deliberate.

“Have you practiced dancing to the song?” he asks in a friendly tone.

“Yep,” I nod, slightly nervous, but the truth is I feel as good about the choreography as Jack does with the lyrics. I had little time t o work with, but with Jack’s voice singing about how he sees me to guide me, I think I came up with something truly moving. “Yeah, I’m good to go,” I say with more affirmation.

“Great, glad to hear it.” He smiles and nods his confidence. “Just go with that and you’ll be filmed. You’ll be asked to go through it and re-shoot several moves so that they capture the right shot, but hang in there.”

I gathered by the ungodly hour we’re here, and the coffee and food set out, that this was going to be something of a process, so I’m not surprised.

“We’re also going to film a little of you not dancing,” he adds.

Say what?

“We want to capture some of the duality the song describes about Her , aka, you,” he explains to my dumbfounded expression.

“Got it,” I assure him, even though I’m still slightly apprehensive on the inside at this new info.

In the next few moments, there’s lots of shouting for people to find their marks, and finally a cue for the camera to start rolling.

When I hear the opening notes of See Her start pumping through the speakers, I shakily start my routine. It’s several eight-counts before I settle into it, just listening to the song, pretending I’m alone in the studio. The bass drum, the electric guitar riffs, and the deep, ominous tones Jack is singing in give me the motivation I need. There is an occasional cut so that the director can tell me he wants to see a certain move again, or wants me to do it with more intensity, and by the time they call it good, I’m out of breath and slightly hangry.

I’m gratefully chugging from a cold water bottle when I hear a low and rough but velvety voice approaching me.

“Wow,” Jack muses as Anita shows up again at my side to touch me up with some powder. "Look at you,” he adds, his gaze scoping down and back up again.

"I know. Don't I look crazy?"

"Definitely. But it's crazy pretty." I realize he's in black jeans and a dark blue Henley that fits tightly across his chest and arms. No problem with this look at all. "We're shooting right after they're done with you, so I have to go help set up." He gestures to the far corner or the warehouse. "I just wanted to come say hi to my girl first."

“You’re sweet,” I send back to him in a low tone, and I get a kiss on the cheek before he heads back to join the guys. I let that little show of affection fuel me for more and more takes, this time of doing mundane things like gazing out the window while trying to look deep in thought. I feel awkward as I’m not an actress. Sure, I have to express emotion and tell stories through dance, but that feels completely different.

I’m trying to ignore the camera as I look out at the overcast, now-late morning when I get an idea. It’s summer, so there’s no frost or condensation, but it’s better than doing nothing. Leaning in, I draw in a deep breath and release it onto the pane, leaving a small foggy patch. Then, like kids love doing in the cold weather, I take my finger and slowly etch the words See Me.

I hear an approving Yes! – I’m guessing from the director – and he hollers for the camera to move in and get the words before they evaporate with my makeshift mist. The director has me do it again a couple more times so they have the best quality shot before they finally cut for good, freeing me to get myself some sustenance, and hopefully watch the guy’s portion of the filming before we move to the other location.

“You totally nailed the look we were going for,” the director says, high five-ing me before turning to tell the rest of the crew to head over to where the guys have set up. "Jack, Matt, you guys ready?"

"Good to go,” Jack says, slinging his electric guitar over his shoulder.

"You should grab some food, honey," Anita says, patting my back as she walks past me.

Hell yes.

I head over to the catering table and load up a paper plate with s ome light snacks so that I can quiet the beast but not stuff myself too full for the additional dancing I have to do later.

I glance over towards the shoot to see Anita hurriedly dabbing a little makeup on all the guys before walking away, and the director starts shouting out the usual commands. The song starts, action is yelled, and the guys start playing and singing along with it. They can’t be heard over the track and the sound is going to be dubbed, but I like that they are singing anyway.

With my plate of fruit and cheese, I sneak over to where Ron and the director are sitting and peek over their shoulders at the monitor, curious to see what this might look like on people’s screens. I’m surprised to notice that Jack’s eyes repeatedly dart away from the camera as he concentrates on the singing.

“Not… what I saw on stage,” I hear Ron murmur, and the director nods at him before yelling, “ Cut!”

“Jack,” he calls out to him and Jack raises his eyebrows at him. “You need to look into the camera at some points.”

Jack swallows and nods before answering. “Got it.” I guess this is a little different for him, too.

I’m not sure why he looks so nervous all of a sudden, but I peek my head around the camera as they call for action again and give Jack a playful smile. Lifting my eyebrows and tilting my head, I give him a look that asks, are you going to rock my socks off or what?

I get a chuckle in response as the director counts down again. This time, Jack does his best to look at the camera, but he looks hardcore and broody as all get-out. It’s hot. The look of intensity he gives is almost scary, but definitely outweighed by the sexy.

I watch for a while as they play. Scott cut s once in a while to give them instructions, and after watching for a bit, I head over to the changing area to put on my comfier clothes until we head to the next venue.

Jack

It was a long morning in the warehouse, but we powered through and got some good footage.Scott, the director, let us watch a little bit of playback to give us an idea of what the video will look like.It’s very baseline of course, as there is a ton of editing and effects to be added in, but seeing a few minutes of camera roll was enough to restore my excitement, and motivate me to hit it hard again at this next shoot.We’re at the St. Michelle, setting up on its grand stage.

I’ve only been in this place once before, and it really is something.It’s old fashioned and elegant, with moldings, huge lights, and seemingly endless rows of plush, red seats.Scott has both me and the guys, and Mayzie, shooting our scenes on stage, and they’re preparing to shoot her dancing while the guys and I get our instruments ready.

Whoever is in charge of wardrobe is trying to kill me with the things they’re putting Mayzie in.Back at the warehouse they had her looking really ‘rock chick’ with all the black, giving her an edginess.Here, they’ve softened her look a bit, putting her in a white button-down shirt that comes down enough to hide her little black dance shorts.The first three buttons are undone, and it’s driving me out of my fucking mind.

When I hear action called, I look up and watch Mayzie, and just like every other time I’ve seen her dance, I can’t look away.I keep looking down at my guitar, trying to pay attention to tuning it, but I can’t help looking back up at her every few seconds. There is so much being said with the way she’s moving.She looks sexy yet innocent, and there’s so much emotion evoked in every extension of her arm, roll of her head, or whip of her hair.

“Cut!” I hear, and I snap back to the here and now.I go back to tun ing my guitar, giving the strings a good pick or strum here and there. “Jack!” I hear Scott’s voice again, only closer. I look up to see him approaching me.

“What’s going on?” I ask, turning to him.

“We’re bringing in another camera. We’ve got an idea.”

I don’t comprehend what’s going on here, but I’m going with it.We’re lucky to be here, and I’m not questioning anything.We are all ready to go; Chris is behind his drum set, and the rest of us have our guitars slung on, just waiting for Scott to lead the charge.

“Alright, guys, get in the zone and play your asses off like you’re performing at the Grammys. As for you, Jack…” he steps closer and lowers his voice, “eyes on Mayzie.”

No challenge there , I think to myself, and as I hear the countdown, I realize he must have seen me watching her.

As the song starts and I hear action , I play, or rather pretend to, full of energy like I always do.I jerk my guitar around; I sway my hips, all the while watching as Mayzie dances, a lot like I saw her in the studio that night.I’m amazed by her once again, as I see the serious set of her face, and I just can’t believe I’m with someone who can move like that.When he’s satisfied, Scott finally cuts, and tells us to take five.

I look over at Mayzie who’s drinking from a water bottle, and decide to walk over to see her for a minute before they throw her back at it again. She greets me with that smile I’m crazy about, and my arms automatically open.

“Can I give you a hug?” I ask, not waiting for an answer as I wrap my arms around her back and pull her against me.

“Always,” she says, putting her arms around my neck.We’ve both been working hard today and keeping things professional, but we’re technically on a break, and I feel like we’ve earned a moment together.

“You look amazing,” I say in her ear, as I cuddle her close.

“Ha,” she says, with a self-deprecating chuckle. “Have you checked out a mirror? ”

“Oh, you like this?” I ask, leaning back just enough to look at her face.

“It’s pretty hot,” she says, lifting an eyebrow.It’s right then that we’re interrupted by Scott hollering to Mayzie and the crew that they’re getting back to work in one minute.

“Good timing,” I say, as I release her. “These pants don’t hide much.”

She blushes and laughs as I walk away, letting her get back to it.